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In May 2006, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWENTY Lighter-than-Air Vehicle LTAV Detachment (VX-20 LTAV Det) began regular flight operations from the [[Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst]] located in Lakehurst, New Jersey. In 2007 flight operations were halted and the ship stored in Hangar Six at the naval air station.
In May 2006, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWENTY Lighter-than-Air Vehicle LTAV Detachment (VX-20 LTAV Det) began regular flight operations from the [[Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst]] located in Lakehurst, New Jersey. In 2007 flight operations were halted and the ship stored in Hangar Six at the naval air station.


In January 2010, the '''MZ-3A''' was transferred to the Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), formerly known as the Naval Research Laboratory Flight Support Detachment located at the [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]], Maryland.<ref>"Centennial," Spring 2010, Naval Air Forces Official Publication Vol. 2, Issue 2</ref><ref>[http://spot.colorado.edu/~dziadeck/airship/announcements.htm Announcement] - Announcement</ref><ref>http://www.dcmilitary.com/special_sections/sw/080408px/ss_111733_31949.shtml</ref>
In January 2010, the '''MZ-3A''' was transferred to the Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), formerly known as the Naval Research Laboratory Flight Support Detachment, located at the [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]], Maryland.<ref>"Centennial," Spring 2010, Naval Air Forces Official Publication Vol. 2, Issue 2</ref><ref>[http://spot.colorado.edu/~dziadeck/airship/announcements.htm Announcement] - Announcement</ref><ref>http://www.dcmilitary.com/special_sections/sw/080408px/ss_111733_31949.shtml</ref>


In March 2010 the airship resumed flight operations with test flights at [[Marine Corps Air Station Yuma]], Arizona by civilian contractor, Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc. (ISSI), California. ISSI currently maintains and operates the vehicle.
In March 2010 the airship resumed flight operations with test flights at [[Marine Corps Air Station Yuma]], Arizona by civilian contractor, Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc. (ISSI), California. ISSI currently maintains and operates the vehicle.

Revision as of 02:33, 11 July 2010

In 2006, the US Navy took delivery of a modified American Blimp Corporation A-1-170 series commercial blimp and given the USN type/model/series (T/M/S) designation MZ-3A and Bureau Number (BuNo) 167811. After delivery to the Navy, the airship began operations as an advanced flying laboratory used to evaluate affordable sensor payloads, the development of new lighter-than-air technologies and general flight support for other related R&D/S&T projects.

In May 2006, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron TWENTY Lighter-than-Air Vehicle LTAV Detachment (VX-20 LTAV Det) began regular flight operations from the Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst located in Lakehurst, New Jersey. In 2007 flight operations were halted and the ship stored in Hangar Six at the naval air station.

In January 2010, the MZ-3A was transferred to the Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1), formerly known as the Naval Research Laboratory Flight Support Detachment, located at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.[1][2][3]

In March 2010 the airship resumed flight operations with test flights at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona by civilian contractor, Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc. (ISSI), California. ISSI currently maintains and operates the vehicle.

On July 5, 2010 the MZ-3A was re-deployed to the Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores, Alabama to assist in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery operation.[4]

Its current livery is an all-white color scheme with no external markings other than its US Navy Bureau Number: 167811.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Centennial," Spring 2010, Naval Air Forces Official Publication Vol. 2, Issue 2
  2. ^ Announcement - Announcement
  3. ^ http://www.dcmilitary.com/special_sections/sw/080408px/ss_111733_31949.shtml
  4. ^ http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=927934&g2_imageViewsIndex=1
  • Navy Lakehurst Historical Society, "The Airship," April-May 2007, "Navy LATV Unit Honors NLHS, pg 5
  • Naval Airship Association, "The Noon Balloon" Summer 2006, "After 44 Years, Lakehurst Back in Lighter-Than-Air Flight Research," posted by the Asbury Park Press, 5/9/06, by Kirt More, Toms River Bureau, pgs 8-10.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill